Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to take on the New York Yankees this weekend for the first time since the 2008 regular season.  

Pittsburgh crushed New York by a score of 12-5 in the first game of the two-game series before being shut out 10-0 in the second game six years ago.    

This is an old rivalry that will be renewed when the Pirates play in their first series at the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.  

The Pittsburgh Pirates have failed to live up to expectations so far in 2014, owning an overall record of 16-21.  

However, the team has won four of its last five games, as its batters begin to heat up.  

Let's take a look at each player on the active roster and the grades they've earned after the first quarter of the 2014 regular season.  

This list of grades includes only players on the active 25-man roster.  

The Pittsburgh Pirates Systems Check video offers a quick overview of the team's farm system, addressing its strengths and weaknesses and how it can improve moving forward.

The video also provides a breakdown of the Pirates’ top prospects for 2014—outfielder Gregory Polanco, right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon and middle infielder Alen Hanson—including each player's ETA in the major leagues and potential long-term role within the organization.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle is doing everything he can to bring his team out of its slump in 2014. 

The Pirates have started their season with a 10-18 record through their first 28 games.  The offensive production Pittsburgh is getting has been subpar, as their team batting average of just .225 through the first 28 games is ranked 27th in the major leagues.  

Expectations were high coming into the 2014 Major League Baseball regular season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  After all, the team made it back to the playoffs in 2013 for the first time since 1992. 

Now, although it is hard to believe, it is a fact that the Pirates are currently on pace to lose 100 games in 2014.  That's right, 100 losses. 

A division cannot be won for a team in April, but it can certainly be lost. Such is the case for the 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates, who fell to 9-14 and 7.5 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. 

After a stellar 2013 season in which they went 94-68 and won the National League Wild Card Game, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to be on track for another great season in 2014. 

Backed by the big bats of Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin, the Pirates have a dangerous lineup that can power their way to the top of the standings throughout the season. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates were dealt a blow Monday when Tom Singer of MLB.com reported that pitching prospect Jameson Taillon opted to have Tommy John surgery on his injured throwing arm.

A year after winning 94 games and reaching the postseason for the first time since 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates rewarded the architect of the team, general manager Neal Huntington, and manager Clint Hurdle with three-year contract extensions.

From the Pirates' official website:

When the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired pitching prospect Stolmy Pimentel via a trade with the Boston Red Sox in 2012, they felt they were getting a special talent. 

At 6'3" and 230 pounds, the 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic stands tall on the mound, and he is not afraid to go right after batters in any opposing lineup.